SouthAfrica Thrilling Win Over Windies

Herschelle Gibbs blitzed his way to an unbeaten 90 to lead hosts South Africa to a dramatic eight-wicket win over the West Indies in the first match of the inaugural ICC Twenty20 World Championship on Tuesday.


Cricket's new avatar kickstarted with hosts skipper Graeme Smith winning the toss and inviting the West Indies to bat in a packed Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg.


It had seemed that Smith had squandered an opportunity to rake up the runs first up when the West Indies put up 205-6 in their allotted 20 overs. Chris Gayle brought Johannesburg to his feet with the first ever Twenty20 international century coming off only 50 deliveries as he hammered the South African bowlers to all corners of the park.


But Gibbs played one of his own blinders as he clobbered 90 not out from 55 balls as the South Africans cruised to victory with 2.2 overs to spare. The West Indies, on their part, were guilty of not backing up their batsmen as the bowlers sent down a total of 28 extras—a record—and dropped three catches to make matters worse.


South Africa had started in similar fashion to that of the West Indies but not before skipper Graeme Smith was hit on his forearm with the first delivery of their innings from bowler Daren Powell.


Smith and Herschelle Gibbs got the South Africans off to a cracking start as they raced away to 50 in the fifth over, before Smith was dismissed by Ravi Rampaul with sharp catch by Chris Gayle for 28, which was followed by the dismissal of AB de Villiers, who made his way back for 16.


Gibbs, however, kept up with the run chase with a flurry of boundaries from his end. The batsman got a reprieve on 43 when he skied a slower delivery off Dwayne Bravo only to be dropped by Shivnarine Chanderpaul in the deep as the ball trickled over the rope for a boundary. The opener brought up his half-century shortly after with a cross-batted swipe to keep South Africa well within reach.


Justin Kemp and Gibbs brought up their 100-run third wicket stand in just 50 balls as the hosts were marching towards victory. The duo brought down the asking rate in a frantic run chase, which left them needing only 13 runs from 18 balls to win the opening Twenty20 World Championship game.


But Gibbs slammed a six and two boundaries off Dwayne Bravo to bring an end to a thrilling opener as South Africa chased down the target with 2.2 overs to spare.


Kemp remained not out on 46 from 22 balls with the help of five fours and two towering sixes.


Gayle thunders to first T20 century


Gayle and Devon Smith got the Windies off to a flier with the duo sharing an opening stand of 145 before Smith was caught behind off Vernon Philander for 35 in the 14th over of the innings.

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